Garment stay



June 5, 1962 G. BOHM GARMENT STAY Filed Sept. 26, 1960 INVENTOR GEORGE BOHM ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,037,211 GARMENT STAY George Bohm, 680 Fort Washington Ave, New York, N.Y. Filed Sept. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 66,372 3 Claims. (Cl. 2-256) This invention relates to an improved structure for use as a garment stay or the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a garment stay or the like which is made of a non-corrosive material, preferably plastic, which is light in weight but strong. Another object of this invention is to provide a plastic stay which can be flexed, not only in a direction transverse to its plane, but also within its plane. Another object of the invention is to provide a stay of the above type which may be made economically.

In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, the stay consists of generally parallel, monofilaments or rods made of nylon, by way of example. These monofilaments are individually relatively flexible. The monofilaments are held in spaced relationship by means of bridging material which imparts an overall rigidity to the structure, while permitting it to be flexed considerably in a direction transverse to its plane, and flexed to a relatively limited extent within its plane.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a stay in accordance with the invention, the stay being shown in normal straight condition.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the stay bent in its own plane, the bending being greater than usual for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a section on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are respectively cross-sections of alternative forms of monofilaments suitable for use in the various embodiments of the invention.

First Embodiment FIGS. 1-3 show a stay 10 consisting of stay body 11 and optional end tips 9. Stay body 11 may be made of appropriate plastic material, in longitudinally extending and elongated form, this plastic being relatively stable under conditions of use and laundering of the garment, and being somewhat flexible and resilient. One example, without limitation, of an appropriate material is nylon in solid extruded form. Another example is an acetal resin of the general formula ((OCH )n) such as a resin sold by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. under the trade mark Delrin.

Said body 11 comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending, generally parallel monofilaments or rods 12. By way of example, but without limitation thereto, the drawing shows four such parallel monofilaments 12. Adjacent monofilaments 12 are connected, at selected intervals along the length thereof, by means of laterally extending bridge members or connection members 13.

Optionally and preferably, although without limitation thereto, the connection members 13 are extruded or mold- 3,037,21 l Patented June 5, 1962 ed integrally with the longitudinally extending monofilaments 12.

As will be apparent from the subsequent description of the operation of this embodiment, the dimensions and spacing of the elements 12 and 13 will be matters of design. Preferably, the length of each monofilament 12 is extremely great in comparison to the diameter thereof. The diameter is suflicient to impart suflicient strength to the monofilament, while permitting the desired flexing thereof. Preferably, the spacing between laterally successive monofilaments 12 is less than the diameter thereof. Preferably, the connection members 13 between adjacent monofilaments 12 are spaced on the order of about one inch apart. Preferably the connection members 13 are staggered as in the manner shown in the drawing, to impart flexibility to the assembly in its own plane. Thus, the center set of connection members 13 is longitudinally offset with respect to the other two sets of connection members 13.

The cross sectional shape of each of the monofilaments or rods 12 may be of any appropriate shape. As shown in the enlarged detailed view of FIG. 8, the monofilament 12 may be circular in cross sectional shape. Optionally, the monofilament may have the shape shown in FIG. 9, and designated by the reference numeral 12a, this shape being square with slightly rounded corners. Optionally, also, the monofilaments having the cross sectional shape designated by the reference numeral 12b and shown in FIG. 10 may be employed, this shape being generally rectangular with slightly rounded corners, the height being slightly greater than the width. Also, the cross sectional shape of the monofilament may be oval or other suitable shape.

Preferably the height or thickness of the connection member 13 is less than the height or thickness of the monofilament 12, 12a or 12b, as the case may be, this being clearly shown in FIG. 3. The purpose of the members 13 is to serve as bridging members to prevent buckling of the monofilaments 12 out of their plane while they are being bent in the manner shown in FIG. 2, and to hold the monofilaments 12 normally spaced from each other to allow room for flexing in the manner shown in FIG. 2.

When stay body 11 is bent in its own plane in the manner shown in FIG. 2 (the bending being greater than usual in this view for purposes of illustration), the monofilaments are each flexed between successive connection members 13. The two center monofilaments 12 tend to approach each other at points P midway between successive center connection members 13. The outer monofilaments 12 tend to approach the center monofilaments at points P midway between successive outer connection members 13.

The hollow tip 9 is conventional and may be applied to the monofilaments 12 at each end thereof. Optionally, tips 9 may be omitted.

Second Embodiment -In this embodiment, the bridge members 23 are formed separately from the monofilaments 22. The spacing and size of the bridge members 23 correspond substantially to that of the bridge members 13 of the first embodiment. However, the bridge member 23 may be made of any suitable material which can be adherent to the monofilaments 22 by heat sealing, adhesive or any other suitable means. Advantageously, in this embodiment, the members 23 may be made of a soft, somewhat resilient material, such as foam polyurethane or foam rubber. Monofilaments 22 are similar to monofilaments 12 and may be shaped as in FIGS. 8, 9 or 10.

Third Embodiment In this embodiment, monofilaments 32 are connected by elongated strips 33 which are preferably made of a soft, flexible and resilient material such as foam rubber or foam polyurethane. In this embodiment, it is important that the bridging strips 33 be more flexible than the monofilaments 32. In this embodiment, the monofilaments 32 will be bent along smooth curves, the monofoam strips 33 between the monofilaments 32 will be compressed or stretched as the case may be, at various points along the line of the stay. Monofilaments 32 are similar to monofilaments 12 and may have the shape shown in FIGS. 8, 9 or 10.

Fourth Embodiment In this embodiment, the monofilaments 42 are supported in spaced relationship by means of interwoven threads 43. Each thread 43 has portions 43a which extend diagonally and which are successively passed over and under successive monofilaments 12. Illustratively, the drawing shows two such threads 43, but the invention is not limited to the precise number of threads. The provision of the threads causes spacing thread portions to be interposed between successive monofilaments 42 at spaced intervals along the length thereof, these intervals being successively staggered between successive monofilaments. The spacing between successive monofilaments 42 is dependent on the thread thickness. It will be apparent that if a greater spacing between the monofilaments is desired, this may be obtained by using thread of greater diameter. It will be apparent that the action of the embodiment of FIG. 7 is similar to the action of the first embodiment, in that the spacing threads permit flexing of the monofilaments within their plane, similarly to the manner shown in FIG. 2, with the various segments of monofilament between successive intersection points of the thread approaching or actually touching each other in the manner illustrated in detail in FIG. 2. Monofilaments 42 are similar to monofilaments 12 and may have the shape shown in FIGS. 8, 9 or 10.

In each embodiment, the structure comprises a plurality of elongated, longitudinally extending, generally coplanar, spaced, generally parallel, rod-like plastic elements which are flexible and resilient and have a preset normal condition which is usually but not necessarily, straight. In each embodiment, the structure also comprises means connecting the elements and normally maintaining them in their spaced relationship. These connecting means define zones of laterally successive elements in which they are free to move toward and away from each other. These zones may extend between longitudinally successive connecting members, as in the first embodiment, for example, or may extend the length of the elements, as in the third embodiment, for example. In any event, the total length of the zones is large in comparison to the width of the elements. The connecting means are positioned and adapted to permit bending of the elements in unison in their plane while at the same tirne substantially preventing buckling of the elements out of their plane.

While I have disclosed preferred embodiments of the invention, and have indicated various changes, omissions and additions which may be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A structure for use as a garment stay and the like, comprising at least three elongated, longitudinally extendijng, laterally spaced, generally parallel, rod-like plastic elements, said elements being in substantially the same plane and being flexible and resilient and having a preset normal condition, and rows of longitudinally spaced bridging members respectively connecting respective pairs of laterally successive elements, the width and length of each said bridging member being respectively small in comparison to the distance between successive members, each said bridging member being rigidly secured to the elements which it connects, the members of laterally succesive rows being in staggered longitudinal relation to each other, the segments of the elements intermediate said members being adapted to be flexed in their plane for resulting bending of said structure in said plane to define respective generally concave and convex longitudinal edges thereof, said elements being adapted upon release to return to their normal condition.

2. Structure according to claim 1, said bridging members being of the same material as said elements.

3. Structure according to claim 2, said bridging members being integral with said elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 351,344 Stone et al. Oct. 19, 1886 538,337 Ludwig Apr. 30, 1895 748,830 Wood Jan. 5, 1904 1,231,089 Stebbins et al. June 26, 1917 2,756,435 Rose July 31, 1956 

